How a lot Duke basketball pays, obtain for nonconference video games in 2025-26 season – The Fayetteville Observer

Earlier than Duke basketball dives into ACC play, the Blue Devils’ nonconference schedule brings a gradual stream of opponents — and payouts — to Cameron Indoor Stadium.
By way of open information requests to Duke’s public opponents, because the personal college is exempt from North Carolina’s public information legislation, the Fayetteville Observer obtained contracts detailing how a lot Duke is paying visiting groups through the 2025–26 nonconference slate. Contracts had been additionally requested, with some being obtained, for Duke’s neutral-site video games and away nonconference contests.
Of their fourth-season below head coach Jon Scheyer, Duke is ready to host six nonconference opponents in Western Carolina (Nov. 8), Indiana State (Nov. 14), Niagara (Nov. 21), Howard (Nov. 23), Florida (Dec. 2) and Lipscomb (Dec. 16).
Contracts for the Blue Devils’ video games towards Niagara, Howard and Lipscomb had been unavailable as a result of faculty’s being personal and exempt from public information legal guidelines. The Niagara and Howard video games are a part of the Brotherhood Run, with former Blue Devils Greg Paulus and Kenny Blakeney set to make their returns to Cameron Indoor Stadium teaching their respective faculties.
The contact for the Florida sport was additionally unavailable as it’s a part of the ACC/SEC Problem and neither group receives compensation since that ESPN marquee occasion is included in every convention’s media rights payout.
For Western Carolina and Indiana State’s journeys to Cameron Indoor Stadium, every program is ready to obtain $90,000 from Duke together with 75 complimentary tickets apiece.
Duke additionally hosted UCF in a preseason exhibition sport as a part of the Brotherhood Run, marking the return of former Duke All-American Johnny Dawkins to Cameron Indoor Stadium. The contract for the sport, nevertheless, was unavailable by means of UCF, because the UCF Athletics Affiliation, a Direct Help Group of the College, is exempt from Florida’s public information legislation below Florida Statute §1004.28(5)(b).
The Blue Devils have 5 neutral-site video games on their nonconference slate: Texas on the Spectrum Heart in Charlotte as a part of the Dick Vitale Invitational (Nov. 4), Kansas at Madison Sq. Backyard in New York Metropolis as a part of the State Farm Champions Traditional (Nov. 18), Arkansas on the United Heart in Chicago for the CBS Sports activities Thanksgiving Traditional (Nov. 27), Texas Tech at MSG for the SentinelOne Traditional (Dec. 20) and Michigan at Capital One Enviornment in Washington, D.C., for the Duel of the District (Feb. 21).
Contracts from all neutral-site opponents had been obtained excluding Texas. Kansas is receiving a $300,000 payout from ESPN and will obtain extra if ticket income exceeds $1.2 million. Kansas can also be set to obtain 76 complimentary tickets for the occasion. For Arkansas, Texas Tech and Michigan, contracts didn’t embody a assured fee, although Texas Tech and Michigan are set to obtain 100 complimentary tickets every.
As a result of contracts with Duke weren’t offered on account of it being a non-public establishment, it is not identified if Duke is receiving the identical payout and incentives for these neutral-site video games.
Contracts had been additionally requested for Duke’s away sport opponents through the nonconference slate: its exhibition sport at Tennessee (Oct. 26), journey to Military West Level (Nov. 11) and Michigan State (Dec. 6). Contract requests from the Tennessee and Military West Level weren’t answered forward of publication. Michigan State’s was obtained, and whereas it didn’t present monetary data, Duke is ready to obtain 150 complimentary tickets (75 behind its bench) for its journey to East Lansing.
Per Duke’s 2025 Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act (EADA) Survey Data, males’s basketball was Duke’s second-leading income generator behind soccer, bringing in $52.7 million in income with $31.8 in bills. The Duke athletic division introduced in a grand complete of $181.6 million in income throughout all of its varsity sports activities.
Duke ideas off ACC play vs. Georgia Tech at Cameron Indoor Stadium on Wednesday, Dec. 31.
Anna Snyder covers Duke for The Fayetteville Observer as a part of the USA TODAY Community. Attain her at asnyder@gannett.com or comply with her @annaesnydr on X, previously often called Twitter. 

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